It had been more than a year since I last saw North America’s most endangered mammal, the black-footed ferret. This past Saturday morning, I had a very brief but very fun encounter.
As I was driving along, I saw its white and black face pop up out of a burrow. I initially dismissed it as a prairie dog but then my brain started yelling, “That is not a prairie dog!”
I came to a stop, backed up slowly and the little guy gave me a few quick poses before disappearing into its home. The visit was brief but I was ecstatic to have been given the opportunity to see such a rare creature again.
Once thought extinct, conservation and captive breeding programs run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have allowed small populations of the black-footed ferret to return to the wild. It is heartening to see such dedicated efforts being taken to right a wrong.
Taken at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge near Denver, Colorado.
If you are interested in owning a copy of this cute little dude (or dudette), I have it available in my online store. You can select everything from just a standard paper print to one with framing to metal prints. At checkout, if you use discount code FZPNMB, it will take 50% off my markup on whatever you choose.
